NHL Players' Association Receiving More Support than NHL

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2012) - Labour unrest continues between the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association. In the latest round of collective bargaining negotiations, hockey fans are mere spectators as both parties fight over the money invested by fans.

A recent poll of the NHL Fans' Association's (NHLFA) 30,000+ members revealed that 84% of fans believe there will be a lock-out as of September 15, and if a lock-out occurs more than 60% of NHL hockey fans intend to reprimand the league financially in the future.

More fans are siding with the players during this conflict. Almost 43% of fans support the players, while only 14% support the NHL and the owners. The remaining 43% of fans support neither party. The current attitude of fans is opposite compared to the 2004-05 labour conflict, when ownership received significantly more support than players.

The NHLFA proposes that both parties agree to roll back salaries, to a level that is acceptable in the professional sports sector. To be fair to both sides, the players' share of hockey related revenue or HRR should gradually roll back to a 50-50 split with owners. Each year, beginning this season, the players' share of HRR should be reduced at a 1% rate. After six years, the 50-50 split would be achieved. The players would barely notice the financial pain and the owners would be assured of greater gains in a few short years. Furthermore, for the sake of fans, the new CBA should be 10 years in length.

The NHLFA continues to lobby the NHL and NHLPA with its proposed solution.